Electric outlet-box.



G. J. DORPF.

ELECTRIC OUTLET BOX.

APPLIOATIOR FILED APR. 6, 1000.

926,246. Patented June 29,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. J. DORFF.

ELEGTRIU OUTLET BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED APILB, 190a.

Patented June 29, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Zfizzwv/on:

G. J. DORFP. ELBGTRIO OUTLET BOX.

APPLICATION TILED APR.6, 1908. 926,246, Patented June 29, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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. UNITED STATEQATENT OFFICE.

- CONRAD J. DORFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FREDRIC GREEIt, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC OUTLET-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed April 6, 1908. Serial No. 425,397.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD J. DoRFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohieago, in the county of Cookand State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Outlet-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to junction or outlet boxes such as are used in wiring buildings and intended to receive switches, fuse blocks, and the like.-

More specifically, the invention relates to the type of outlet box which is made in sections, 111 order that when installing the box the workman may adjust its size to accommodate the required number of switches or other devices.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for conveniently and rigidly securing together the sections of such a box.

The invention also relates to an improved means for attaching an electric outlet box to its supports in the wall or other structure.

The lnvention also relates to the other improvements in outlet boxes hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a two-section outlet box embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said box. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a section on dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmental section on dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmental side elevation showing a box-sup orting ear in a different position from that 1 lustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a section on dotted line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the parts of a single-section or unit outlet box. Fig. 9 is a detail view of a means for securing two metal parts together.

The sectional outlet-box herein illustrated comprises two parts constituting a singlesection or unit box, and any desired number of duplicate sections adapted to be interosed between the two box-parts alluded to. eferring now to Figs. 1 and 8, A indicates one of said box parts and B the other, the part B constituting one end wall of a unit or single-section outlet box. O is an intermediate or spacer section.

The section A comprises the two side walls 1, the rear Wall 2 and the end wall 8, the rear and side walls preferably being integral, and

preferably are dovetai means for connecting the end wall 3 to the walls 1 and 2. U on one of the parts, preferably the end wall 3 are formed tongues or lugs 4 adapted to be riveted into openings or recesses 5 in the other part, which openings in form. The end wall 3 is arranged to overlie the edges of the walls 1 and 2, the lugs 4 being offsetinwardly to lie within the recesses 5. As shown in Figs. 4 and 8, a rib 6 is formed u on each lug to lie behind the wall engaged y said lug, and thereby prevent inward movement of said wall. The outer end 7 of the lug 4,in other words that portion which is intended to be riveted in the recess 5-is curved as shown in Fig. 8, and is provided with projections 8. In attaching the end wall 3 to the walls 1 and 2, said end wall is laid upon the edges of the walls 1 and 2, the curved outer end 7 of the lug 4 is flattened to expand it into engagement with the undercut ends of the recesses 5, and the projections 8 are bent laterally to engage the outer faces of the walls 1 and 2. The flattening of the curved outer end of the lugs 4 serves not only to attach the end wall to the walls 1 and 2, but also serves to draw said end wall into close contact with the walls 1 and 2. The ribs 6 revent inward movement of the walls 1 an 2; the riveted projections 8 prevent outward movement of said walls; and the expanded outer ends of the lugs 4 prevent endwise separation of the end wall 3 and the walls 1 and 2.

The box section B is attached to the box section A in such a way as to obviate the necessity for withdrawing screws or similar devices when it is desirable to separate the parts A and B. Referring to Figs. 1 and 8, it will be seen that upon the opposite sides of the section B are formed lugs 9 bent to lie u on the outer sides of the side walls of an a jacent box-section A or O. In the lugs 9 are formed open-end slots 10 to receive screws 1 1 mounted in each box-section A and O. Upon the rear edge of the box section B is a perforated ear 12 bent to lie against the rear wall of an adjacent box-section. Each of the sections A and O is provided with a stud 13 adapted to lie in the opening of the car 12. The stud 13 may be conveniently formed by displacing a part of the metal of the wall out of the plane of said wall as shown in Fig. 5.

' section B.

The box is mounted in the wall or upon any other suitable su port by means of the ears 16. Each of sai ears is provided with one or more openings 17 to receive screws or other fastening devices, and near each end with an angular attaching lug 18 adapted to be secured to a box section A or C. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lugs 18 are slotted to receive attaching screws 19, the slots having closed rear ends and open. forward ends, and the ear 16 being cut away at 20 near its juncture with the lugs 18 to permit said lugs to be slipped under the heads of the screws 19.

Under certain conditions it is desirable to place the attaching ears 16 some distance in the rear of the front face of the box, as shown in the Fig. 6. When the screws 19 are loosened the lugs 18 may be slipped out from under the heads of said screws, the ears reversed in position, and said lugs again sli ped under said screws.

1; will be seen that the box sections may be assembled to form complete boxes ofany desired length, and that the sections may be secured together without withdrawing the screws 11 and reinserting them in their openings, the arrangement shown resulting in a great saving oftime. If desirable the screws 11 may be locked against withdrawal from their threaded openings, as by riveting over or forming a bur u on the inner ends of said screws, as indicate in Fig. 4.

The switches, fuse blocks, or other devices to be placed in the box are supported therein, in this instance, by means 0 ears 21 having threaded openings 22 therein. The boxsupporting ears 16 are cut away at 23 to accommodate the ears 21.

Any suitable means may be provided for conveniently entering conduits into the box, but I preferably employ o enings 24 which are closed by lugs 25 unti they are needed to receive con uits.

It is evident that various changes may be made in the embodiment herein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, therefore no undue limitation should be understood from the foregoing detailed description.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric outlet box comprising two sections, and means for securing said sections together comprising screws in opposite side walls of one section and slotted lugs rigidly fixed on the other section and extending in 92e,24e I planes substantially arallel with said side walls and adapted to e slipped beneath the heads of said screws.

2. An electric outlet box comprising two sections, and means for connecting said sections together comprising screws mounted in the side walls of one section and a stud upon the rear wall of said section, slotted lugs upon the other section adapted to he slipped under the heads of said screws, and a perforated ear upon the rear part of the last mentioned section adaptedto enga e said stud.

3. An electric out et box comprising two section, lugs upon the other section having forwardly-facing open-end slots adapted to receive said screws, said lugs being adapted to be slipped under the heads of said screws, and a perforated ear upon the rear edge of the last mentioned section adapted to receive said stud. v

5. A structure comprising two metal walls, oneof said walls havinga recess therein and the other wall having a lug thereon adapted to be riveted in said recess, a projecting portion on said lug adapted to lie at the inner side of the wall enga ed by said lug, and projecting portions on t e outer end of said lug adapted to be riveted into engagement with the wall engaged by said lug.

6. A structure comprising two metal side walls, a rear wall, and an end wall adapted to overlie the edges of said other walls, and inwardly offset lugs on said end wall adapted to be riveted in recesses in said rear and side walls.

7. A structure comprising metal side walls, a rear wall, and an end wall overl 'ng the edges of said other walls, and curve lugs on said end Wall adapted to be flattened into engagement with the walls of recesses in said other Walls, such flattening of said lugs drawing.

therein, and the other Wall overlying the edge of the first mentioned wall and havin an offset curved lug thereon adapted to e flattened into engagement with the walls of said recess, such flattening of said lug drawing said walls into close contact; a rib on said lug at one side of the wall engaged by said lug, and projections on the end of said lug adapted to be riveted into engagement with the wall engaged by said lug.

9. A structure comprising two metal walls, one of said walls having a recess therein and the other wall having a lug thereon adapted to be riveted in said recess, and a projecting portion on said lug adapted to lie at one side of the wall engaged by said lug.

10. A section for an electric outlet box comprising a plate having an angular lug on each of three of its edges, two of said lugs on opposite edges having open-end slots therein.

11. A section for an electric outlet box comprising a plate having an angular lug on each of two opposite edges, said lugs having open-end slots therein extending substantially parallel with the plane of said plate.

12. A. section for an electric outlet box comprising a substantially rectangular plate having an angular lug on each of three of its edges, two of said lugs on opposite edges having open-slots therein extending substan tially parallel with the plane of said plate, the other lug having an opening therein.

13. An electric outlet box having a boxsupporting ear, said ear having two angular attaching lugs, and two screws in said box cured to said other walls; screws projecting from said side walls; a spacer-section aving rear and side walls, and lu s on said side walls extending in planes su stantially parallel with the lanes of the side walls of the first mentione box-section, said lugs having open-end slots therein to receive said screws; said spacer-section having screws projecting from its side walls; and an end wall having lugs thereon extending in planes substantially parallel with the planes of the side walls of the other sections, the last mentioned lugs having open-end slots therein to receive the last mentioned screws.

CONRAD J. DORFF. Witnesses M. M. DALEY, GEORGE L. OHINDAHL.

e latter being cut- 

